22 replies to this topic

[Chu6k]

I recently bought a 1971 mini clubman and the front end is very high.
The man who I bought it off said his mate did it so he could work on it easier as he was workin on it out of a council garage, his mate pumped it right up. The back end is normall height but youd think that there was no engine in it if you looked at it, and really looks daft height. It doesnt drive very well like this either.
Question is:
How do I lower it?
I do plan on working o-'n it and renewing a few panels and will need this lowered before I attempt to take it back out for a run.
Can anyone tell me how I lower this? Is it easy to do?
Im new to the mini scene and this is my first mini.
Can anyone help me out here ? Or point me in right direction..

Thanks lads
Regards


Chuck

[Ethel]

I'd say let some fluid out, but since the front should be connected to the rear there's something else going on if it's not level. Rear helper springs, wrong front upper arms.

[mab01uk]

We used to lower them in the same way as dry rubber suspended Mini's, de-pressurize system, remove knuckle joints and cut/machine down the struts but as Ethel said should not be necessary to level the car, the earlier pre-1966 rear helper springs are different to later 1966 onwards system so should not be fitted to later car and vice versa. Also as said upper front arms are different from dry, (no shock absorber mounting studs to identify if standard) Would anyone have packed the front struts with spacer washers/shims to raise it at some point?

Mini Mail sell spare hydrolastic parts:
http://www.minimail....p?q=hydrolastic

Edited by mab01uk, 09 November 2012 - 06:08 PM.

[mk1leg]

Check if the previous owner had put on front dampers as this was an option to stop the old hydro sus from rocking front to back....like a boat(sea sick) motion.....

[Mini_Magic]

Convert it to dry suspension

[Shifty]

The suspension is pumped up left to right and not front to back, well my Elf is anyway.


As I recall the suspension arms are a different ratio, that could be it.

I'm not sure what happens if you pump the system up too much,perhaps that could also be a cause

[mab01uk]

The suspension is pumped up left to right and not front to back, well my Elf is anyway.


As I recall the suspension arms are a different ratio, that could be it.

I'm not sure what happens if you pump the system up too much,perhaps that could also be a cause

Left to right is most unusual......standard Hydrolastic set up on Mini's and BMC 1100/1300/1800 is interconnected front to back.

[Ethel]

You could say it's pumped up on the left & right, each side is connected front to rear & share a filling valve. The rear displaces on Metros were linked side toside , but only with 3/16" brake pipe.

[rhys-89]

I got a 66 super delux and it had hydro lines linking left side front n back and right side front to back and only one filling valve

[rhys-89]

I got a 66 super delux and it had hydro lines linking left side front n back and right side front to back and only one filling valve per side on the rear subframe you may find it may have larger bump stops fitted and also what I am doing with mine is fitting front shocks to act as helpers like the rear

[cradley-heathen]

ok ill show my ignorance, i didnt realise any clubmans were hydrolastic?

[J666ERA]

very early clubbys where till about 71, GT's had different hydro bags firmer ones.something sounds very wrong, it should be high on one side not front or rear check its not be plumbed to have a front circuit and a rear circuit. Converting to dry would be way to go, I would have the front top arms from you...

[mab01uk]

Keep the Hydrolastic it is a unique part of Mini history, becoming rare and should be preserved for as long as possible before they are all gone.........ride is great as well, far superior to dry, they only stopped it because it was more expensive. Most of the winning BMC Works rally and race Mini's were on hydrolastic too.

Edited by mab01uk, 10 November 2012 - 10:38 PM.

[midridge2]

Never seen a side to side one, some pictures would be great to show how they are connected.

[mk3 Cooper S]

Drop the pressure a bit, add front shocks and competition bump stops.